Sailing out of Port Canaveral means you need to get from Orlando Airport to the port . . . there are many options . . . we choose flying in the night before . . . arriving around 11am and then renting a car from Budget . . . we drop the car off at the Budget Centre at the port . . . and just the reverse coming back . . . plus it gives us a car to toodle around Cocoa Beach in not having to rely on taxis if we need to go further than walking distance . . .

Orange you packed? ... I am counting the oranges 'er days ...

Either pre or post cruise when sailing out of Port Canaveral there's always the Magic Kingdom only 40 minutes west . . . where one can always live the dream . . .

COCOA BEACH ... "the space coast" ...

I always strongly recommend when booking a winter cruise and departing from a northern city that you fly and stay the night before . . . I had one bad experience on Holland America's Zuiderdam . . . where we had plane troubles with Northwest Air and nearly missed the ship's departure . . . we literally were walking up the gang plank an hour before departure . . .

Departing from Orlando Cocoa Beach is the closest resort destination . . . multiple hotels, motels, and guest houses to choose from . . . and just a few minutes from Port Canaveral . . .

Port Canaveral, Florida (Carnival - Terminal 5) ...

The Carnival Dream will depart from and return to Port Canaveral, Florida. Port Canaveral is an hour east of Orlando International Airport. Port Canaveral is just off the coast near Indian River famous for it's oranges. You can pick up a bag of oranges that are especially packed and cleared for travel back to Canada if you are travelling to and from Orlando International by rental car. Carnival has built a brand new terminal for the Carnival Dream and the Carnival Magic to follow next year.

The Dream is coming soon September 2009 ... The Dream has been floated out at the Fincanteri Shipyards in Italy for her final fittings ... now just counting the days ...

A typical Carnival Dream balcony stateroom ... subtle yet elegant ...

The Carnival Dream features ... from top to bottom ... the Crimson Dining Room and Lounge ... The Lanai ... The Seaside Theatre and Pool ... The Theatre Showroom and the top deck Waterpark ... note the whirlpools on the promenade deck that protrude out over the side of the ship for unsurpassed views of the ocean on three sides ...

The Carnival Dream will be offering not one but three decks featuring "Cove Balconies" which are staterooms below the promenade deck closer to the waterline thereby giving guests a true sense of being at sea. They will provide optimum views of the ocean and scenery passing by.

Carnival Dream ... a sneak peak ...

The Dream begins service September 2009 ... visit http://www.carnival.com/ for more details ... and for pricing ... http://www.vacationstogo.com/

SHIPS STATISTICS:

Name: Carnival Dream
Registry: Panama
Builder: Fincantieri
Country Built In: Italy
Passenger Capacity: 3646
Crew Capacity: 1367
Gross Tonnage: 130000
Stabilized: Yes
Length: 1004 feet
Number of Passenger Decks: 15
Number of Inside Rooms: 674
Number of Outside Rooms: 1149
Number of Pools: 2

Number of Whirlpools: 6

Waterpark with Slides: Yes

Non-Smoking Dining: Yes

Port of Call - Costa Maya, Mexico ...

Costa Maya, the Western Caribbean’s first port designed exclusively for the cruise ship industry, is strategically located just hours from Cancun on Mexico’s southern Yucatan Peninsula. Resembling an ancient Mayan city, Costa Maya is able to accommodate three ships at once and entertain visitors to a destination that showcases the ancient and colonial heritage of the Mexican Caribbean with all of today’s conveniences. Set against the deep turquoise sea, Costa Maya is comprised of three grand pavilions, artisan and luxury shopping areas, a beach club, saltwater pools, fine restaurants and bars, and all the resources necessary to explore the surrounding jungle and coral reefs.It is the region’s most complete and diverse port of call providing cultural, natural and archeological excursions. Costa Maya is one of only six ports in the Western Caribbean to receive over one million passengers per year.

Port of Call - Cozumel, Mexico ...

With a Mexican heart and a Caribbean soul, Cozumel is a paradise where tradition, flavor and joy come together. You will always find a friendly face and a warm welcome to make your stay an unforgettable one.Famous all over the world for its coral reefs, there are plenty of water sports such as diving, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and more. Cozumel's mostly undeveloped territory at the center of the island is covered by jungle and swampy lagoons, which are home to tiny mammals and endemic birds that have never left the island. Noteworthy is the Chankanaab National Park, a Cozumel icon, and the Punta Sur Ecological Reserve. This huge protected area at the southern tip of the island includes Punta Celarain and its historical lighthouse, as well as the Colombia Lagoon, a shelter for many of the island's endemic species, as well as other endangered forms of life, such as marine turtles and their nesting areas. With its beautiful beaches and exotic locale, Cozumel is an ideal destination where honeymooners can enjoy colorful and breathtaking sunsets, moonlit walks on secluded beaches, swim through crystal clear blue waters and romantic candlelight dinners. And shopping for silver is like nothing else ... literally hundreds of stores ... hola!

Port of Call - Roatan, Honduras

Roatan, the most sophisticated and developed of the three off shore islands, is the home of the Garifuna, world class scuba diving, small fishing villages and intimate resorts and hotels. Thirty-three miles long by 2.5 miles wide (at the broadest), the 49 square mile island, with 23 cays, sports a richly jungled low lying mountain range down its center, and is fringed by over 34 miles of reef -- the many beaches range from purest white, to honey, to golden fawn. If you want to see and be seen, choose gorgeous Tabayana Beach in West Bay -- if peace and quiet is more your style, head for Paya and Camp Bays, or any of the many other beaches in between. Explore dense mangrove forests in the east, stark iron shore in the west, and deserted, gently sloping bights (coves) in between. Visit the iguana farm, experience a dolphin encounter, hike mountain trails, take a canopy tour, descend to the depths in a submarine, pound the beach on horse back -- the opportunities are endless. Roatan is home to the 2nd largest barrier reef after the Great Barrier Reef in Austraila. So don't forget your snorkel gear ...

Port of Call - Belize City

Belize City is a tender port. Upon anchoring in the Caribbean waters just offshore of Belize City, cruise ship passengers are taken by regularly scheduled tenders arranged by their cruise ship to the Fort Street Tourism Village. The Tourism Village was specifically designed to cater to cruise ship passengers wishing to experience a bit of Belize on a day visit. Comprised of three terminals and three courtyards containing over fifty stores and businesses, visitors can enjoy both air-conditioned facilities and fresh tropical breezes throughout the seafront complex. Plenty of restaurants and snack shops accompany live entertainment on cruise ship days, while an internet cafe keeps passengers connected and banks ensure that adequate funds are readily available. The many shops offer a wide variety of Belizean arts and crafts, clothing, jewelry, and duty-free goods.

Spring 2010 on the brand new Carnival Dream ... one can dream can't they?

Check out Vacations to go Fast Deal 10772 Feb 6th, 2010 from Port Canaveral to Central America and Mexico. Sun, sea, sand and sterling silver. Could you ask for anything more. Bonus the ship is "brand new". It will be launched September 2009.

The ports of call are Belize, Roatan (brand new $85 million dollar cruise port), Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico and bonus we are departing from Port Canaveral ... allowing you to spend a day at Disneyland or Universal Studios pre or post cruise ... or just sunning on Cocoa Beach ...

If you are interested call Marlene Schwing at VTG and she will look after you. And remember ask for early seating and get tagged with Brad and I.

We would love you to join us for sun, sea, and sand ...